Theodore c



(No Model.)

T. C. STARK.

FRUIT AND FLOWER PIOKBR AND HOLDER.

Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phoiu-Lnho n lm, Walhmghn, D.C

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE C. STARK, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO XVILLIAM A. BRUCE, OF SAME PLACE.

FRUIT AND FLOWER PICKER AND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,357, dated August 31,1886.

Application filed December 23, 1885. Serial No. 186,578. (No model.)

T (4 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE G. STARK, of Vallejo, Solano county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Fruit and 5 Flower Pickers and Holders; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for gathering fruit, flowers, or any article having stems to be cut, which it is desirable to hold after being severed from the branch without handling the article itself.

It consists in the combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

1 5 Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of the device with the jaws open. Fig. 2 shows them closed so as to grasp the stem which the blade has cut off.

Fig. 3 shows the operation of my device.

A and B are two lever arms or handles, suitably constructed to be grasped by the hand, like pruning-shears, and having springs G, of any suitable construction, to hold them separated. These levers cross each other upon a fulcrum-pin, I), and the outer ends or arms may be curved or straight, as is found most desirable. In the present case I have shown them curved, the jaw E being made rectangular in cross-section and of considerable thickness. The corresponding end, which projects from the opposite lever-arm, is provided with or formed into a cutting-blade, the position being such that the edge of the blade just passes to one side of or above the jaw E,

acting in connection with it to shear or cut off the stem or article which may be placed between them, being in this respect similar to pruning-shears.

0 In order to hold the stem after it has been cut, a jaw, G, is formed of the same shape or curve as the interior face of the jaw E. This jaw G is slotted at a, and a pin or screw, b,

passing through the slot, screws into ahole in 5 the cutting-blade F, so that while the jaw is held elosel y against the inner side of the blade it is allowed to have a backward movement when the opposite jaw closes against it. In order to hold this jaw G against the jaw E with sufficient pressure to hold the grape or flower stem or other article which has been cut, a spring, I, is fitted to press against the back of the blade I being held in place by a yoke, J, the ends of which are bent down so as to be secured by the same screw or pin which holds the jaw G and cutting-blade together, as shown. \Vhen the jaws are open, one side of the spring resting against the back of the cutting-blade will prevent its pressing the jaw any farther forward, and the front or curved face of the j aw projects slightly beyond the edge of the cutting-blade.

The curved surfaces on the jaws E and G are of such form that said jaws seize the fiowerstem or other article to be severed and hold it between themselves with sufficient pressure, by reason of the spring I. As the pressure upon the handles A and B is continued, the tension of the spring I is overcome and the jaw G is moved backward away from the jaw E, thus allowing the cutting-edge of the blade F to pass across the jaw E, so as to cutoff the stem above the point where it is being held by the two jaws.

By this construction I provide a simple and 7 5 convenient pruning-knife or picking or gathering device for grapes or other fruit, flowers. or other articles which it is desired to gather and hold by the stems so as not to brush off the bloom or in any way injure the article dur- 8o ing the process of gathering.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, auddesirc to secure by Letters Patent, is

The eonvexly-curved cutting-blade having a similarly-curved holding'jaw slotted transversely and attached to the inner side of the blade by a pin or screw passing through the slot, a spring, the center of which is held by a yoke from the pin, while its ends press upon 0 the ends of' the movable jaw, in combination with an opposing curved jaw against which the movable jaw is pressed when they are closed, substantially as herein deseribed.-%-*ii- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 5 hand.

THEODORE O. STAR-K.

Vi tn esses:

' G110. J. BRENNAN, JOEL A. HARVEY.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 348,357, granted August 31, 1886, upon the application of Theodore O. Stark, of Vallejo Galifornia for an improvement in Fruitand Flower Pickers and Holders, was erroneousl; Written and printed. WVilliam A. Bruce; that said name should have been written and printed William A. Bruce; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 19th day of October, A. D. 1886.

[SEAL] H. L. MULDROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior.

Oountersign ed R. B. VANCE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

